A group of women and children walk to a vehicle before leaving Tuesday as federal and local law enforcement officers descended upon a three-house compound on the 1200 block of Zavalla near West Orem.

A group of women and children walk to a vehicle before leaving Tuesday as federal and local law enforcement officers descended upon a three-house compound on the 1200 block of Zavalla near West Orem.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Staff

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7 arrested after feds raid compound in SW Houston

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Seven people were arrested Tuesday at a compound in southwest Houston, the target of an ongoing but unspecified investigation.

Greg Palmore, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said federal and local law enforcement agents arrived at the compound in the 12000 block of Zavalla near West Orem for a court authorized enforcement.

Six men and one woman were arrested. The details about the arrests and investigation could not be released, Palmore said, because the documents involved in the case have been sealed.

Neighbors said the compound included three homes and that a family, including many children, lived there. The children were taken from the home on Tuesday, they said.

One neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said "a lot of going in and out" of the compound occurred, suggesting the residents were smuggling something.

Neighbors said they felt that suspicious activity remained hidden behind a wooden fence that was "too tall."

Late Tuesday afternoon, no one was at the compound. A few dogs roamed the grounds.

A dilapidated swing set was buried among the tall grass and faded children's toys were strewn across the gravel.

At one of the homes, a door had a list of names written under the word "hijos," Spanish for children. The handwriting looked to be that of an adolescent and the list sat at about the eye-level of a child.

Beyond the property lines rested dozens of disheveled vehicles.

A handful of people arrived periodically to remove their cars. Among them was Ben Bazylak, 43, who described himself as the owner of a nearby car dealership. He said he had done business for years with a man he called "Gustavo." Bazylak said he didn't know his last name.

Baylak said the man worked on cars outside one of the homes on the property, but wasn't sure if he lived there.

"He was a master mechanic. He could listen to a car and tell you what's wrong with it," Bazylak said. "He seemed legitimate, but it was strictly business. I never asked any questions."

Later in the evening, another car pulled onto the property. A woman, her adult daughter and grandchild were in the car.

The women insisted they were only there to pick up their truck, but later entered the back door of the house farthest from the street.

They denied knowing the property owners but began to clean up around the house.